Our investment team
The Advance Multi-Blend Funds are built and monitored by our investment team – experts with an average of more than 20 years' experience in financial markets.
Our size and contacts give us access to an extensive range of resources, both locally and globally, to ensure the Advance Multi-Blend Funds benefit from the latest thinking from around the world.
The Advance investment process
Watch Felix Stephen, Head of Strategy & Research at Advance discuss Advance's risk management process.
Watch Felix Stephen, Head of Strategy & Research at Advance outline Advance's investment philosophy.
Watch Patrick Farrell, CIO / Head of Advance Asset Management, talk about the award-winning Advance investment process and the importance of managing risk effectively within our Multi-Blend Funds.
Meet the investment team
- Patrick Farrell, B.Sc, ASIA – Chief Investment Officer, BT Financial Group / Head of Advance Asset Management
- Felix Stephen, BA (Economics) – Head of Strategy & Research at Advance Asset Management
- Sidney Chong B.Ec. – Manager, Quantitative Research
- Mark Vrkic, B.Comm, ASIA – Portfolio Manager, International Equities
- Ron Mehmet, B. Arts (Hons), M App. Fin, Grad. Dip. Mgt, Fellow FINSIA – Portfolio Manager, Defensive Asset Classes
- Dimitra Voutas, B.Ec, ASIA – Portfolio Manager, Property & Acting Portfolio Manager - Australian equities
- Chris Thompson B.Sc, FIA, CFA – Portfolio Manager, Alternative Assets
- Mary Feros, B.Comm, F Fin, CPA – Portfolio Manager, Australian Equities
- Adrian Trollor B.Comm, ACA, CIMA – Investment Sustainability Manager & Acting Portfolio Manager, Property
- Andrew Dowie, B. Econ (Hons) – Economist
- Marcelle Murphy, B.Ec, Dip Ed – Economist
- Nick Valcas, BBus (Bking & Fin), SA Fin – Senior Analyst, Portfolio Research
- James Kerr, BAgEc (Ec) – Portfolio Manager, Tactical Asset Allocation
- Pia Velasquez B.Econ, M.Commerce – Investment Analyst
- Victor Zheng, B. Mathematic and Finance, M.Comm – Research Analyst
- Colleen Chidzey – Manager, Policy & Due Diligence
- Sujetha Abeynaike – Cash Flow and Compliance Analyst
Patrick Farrell, B.Sc, ASIA - Chief Investment Officer, BT Financial Group / Head of Advance Asset Management
Patrick joined Advance in June 2007. Patrick has over 22 years’ experience in the investment industry, managing direct institutional portfolios across a broad range of disciplines. He has a Bachelor of Science majoring in pure and applied mathematics and has served on various Investment Committees and Superannuation Boards.
Patrick has extensive knowledge of fixed interest, multi-manager and tactical asset allocation portfolio management. Before joining Advance, Patrick was Head of Multi-Manager and Tactical Asset Allocation at IAG Asset Management that encompassed managing asset class exposures, direct hedge fund management, alpha transport strategies, multi-manager portfolio construction and major portfolio protection strategies.
Felix Stephen, BA (Economics) - Head of Strategy & Research at Advance Asset Management
Felix joined Advance Asset Management in May 2004 as the Head of Strategy and Research. He is responsible for formulating strategic asset allocation strategies across diversified portfolios managed by Advance and drives the consultation, analytical and research agenda along with the publication of regular research papers for Advance’s retail and institutional clients.
He has over 40 years of experience in international banking, treasury, fixed income, foreign exchange and portfolio management and has served on asset allocation and investment strategy committees at funds management institutions in Australia and overseas. Felix has also been a consultant to institutions in Australia and overseas on strategic developments in funds management and financial markets.
Prior to migrating from the UK to Australia in 1987, Felix was the Manager, Treasury at the Bank of Ceylon London. He gained his commercial banking experience in Sri Lanka and London and has authored and published numerous research papers on global financial asset markets, macro economic trends, asset allocation and rural banking development and was a member of the market practices committee at the Central Bank of Ceylon. He maintains a strong network of key personalities within the industry and other organisations around the world.
Felix devotes a considerable period of his time towards financial market research and frequently travels across Australia and the world sharing his thoughts on key topics, at public forums and conferences while also devoting his spare time towards charitable activities and music.
Sidney Chong, B.Ec. - Manager, Quantitative Research
Prior to being appointed to the role of Manager, Quantitative Research at Advance, Sidney was responsible for strategic analysis, manager research, portfolio construction and ongoing monitoring for the BT Multi-manager fixed interest and alternative asset classes.
Sidney has over 20 years’ experience in the application of quantitative and qualitative disciplines for the construction and monitoring of multi-manager portfolios. Prior to joining BT Financial Group in 2007, Sidney was an asset consultant and researcher with Mercer Investment Consulting advising institutional investors on multi-manager portfolio construction, manager selection and implementation issues. Prior to Mercer, Sidney was the Head of Quantitative Analysis at van Eyk Research and was responsible for quantitative analysis for van Eyk’s manager ratings, van Eyk’s Blueprint portfolios and a variety of institutional clients. Sidney also spent nine years in institutional and retail asset management with Citicorp Global Asset Management across a variety of analytical and operational roles.
Sidney holds a Bachelor of Economics from Sydney University with majors in Economics, Accounting and Commercial Law and is a regular speaker at industry conferences.
Mark Vrkic, B.Comm, ASIA - Portfolio Manager, International Equities
Mark joined Advance in October 2006. Mark has a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting, and has 15 years’ experience in the investment industry with a focus on investment research, financial planning services and portfolio management.
Prior to joining Advance, Mark was a research analyst at IOOF Investment Management Limited responsible for managing their multi-manager equity portfolios. Mark has developed a strong network of global contacts within the investment management industry and has extensive experience in investment manager research, investment strategy and multi-manager portfolio management.
Ron Mehmet, B. Arts (Hons), M App. Fin, Grad. Dip. Mgt, Fellow FINSIA - Portfolio Manager, Defensive Asset Classes
Ron Mehmet joined Advance in July 2010 as Portfolio Manager, Fixed Interest, bringing with him over 25 years’ investment experience.
Ron started his career at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) as a Management Graduate and progressively rotated though a number of divisions within the Banking Group. Ron’s experience includes investments, lending, merger and acquisitions, and financial markets (including money markets, foreign exchange, futures and stock broking).
After 12 years with the CBA, Ron left his senior management role within the Financial Markets division to join the ING Investment Management (INGIM) – Multi Strategies Group in June 1997. While at INGIM, Ron was responsible for multi-manager portfolios, specifically Australian and International Fixed Interest, Enhanced Cash, and Australian and International Property Securities Trust portfolios. He was also a member of their tactical asset allocation, risk and compliance and investment committees and a regular speaker to financial advice groups and corporate investment boards before moving to Advance.
Ron graduated from the University of Wollongong, with an Honours degree in Economics and Geography and has worked in the finance industry since 1984. Ron has since completed the Masters of Applied Finance at Macquarie University, Sydney, a Diploma in Management at the University of Technology, Sydney and is also a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA).
Dimitra Voutas, B.Ec, ASIA - Portfolio Manager, Property & Acting Portfolio Manager - Australian equities
Dimitra joined Advance in April 2003. Dimitra has a Bachelor of Economics with a joint major in Economics and Finance and is currently undertaking the Masters of Applied Finance course at Macquarie University. Dimitra has over 16 years’ experience in the investment and superannuation industry having worked for a large multi-manager fund, superannuation industry and insurance industry. Prior to joining Advance, Dimitra was Investment Manager at WorkCover responsible for managing the $6 billion WorkCover portfolio.
Dimitra has extensive experience in manager research reviews, multi-manager portfolio management, portfolio risk analysis and client reporting.
Chris Thompson, B.Sc, FIA, CFA - Portfolio Manager, Alternative Assets
Prior to being appointed to the role of Portfolio Manager, Chris was a member of BT’s Investment team where he was responsible for overall portfolio construction and monitoring of the BT Multi-manager portfolios, as well as manager research within Australian equities.
Prior to joining BT Financial Group in 2005, Chris worked for Intech Investment Consultants where he was Portfolio Manager of the Intech Investment Trusts, a range of multi-manager portfolios totalling $6 billion.
Previously, Chris was jointly responsible for investments at South Africa’s Nedcor Investment Bank’s domestic multi-manager division. He also spent time in London involved with risk management at Credit Suisse Financial Products (the derivatives arm of Credit Suisse). Chris has also worked for the Southern Life Association in Cape Town, South Africa where he was responsible for product development of the firms’s individual life and investment products.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Business Science from the University of Cape Town and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries (UK) and a CFA charter holder.
Mary Feros, B.Comm, F Fin, CPA – Portfolio Manager, Australian Equities
Mary Feros joins Advance in November 2012 as Portfolio Manager, Australian Equities, bringing with her over 20 years’ financial services and investment management experience.
Prior to joining Advance, Mary was Joint Investment Director at 452 Capital Pty Ltd which involved constructing and managing Australian equity portfolios. Her deep level of knowledge of Australian equities was cultivated in her roles as Portfolio Manager for ING Investment Management’s Australian Equities Portfolio and for IAG’s Australian Equities Portfolio. Prior to that, Mary also worked at Westpac Investment Management and CBA Financial Services as a Senior Portfolio Manager.
Mary graduated from the University of New South Wales, with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance and has worked in the finance industry since 1984. Mary is also a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA).
Adrian Trollor, B.Comm, ACA, CIMA - Investment Sustainability Manager & Acting Portfolio Manager, Property
Prior to being appointed to the role of Investment Sustainability Manager, Adrian was a member of the BT Investment team where he was Head of Product and Business, a member of the investment committee and had responsibility for product development, product management, investment implementation, transition management and business aspects of the group.
Adrian has 12 years’ experience with BT Financial Group across investments, product, and finance areas. Prior to BT Financial Group, Adrian gained extensive financial services experience with Ernst & Young both in Australia and overseas. His total industry experience is 15 years which is augmented with a further 6 years in business.
He holds the Certified Investment Management Consultant designation through Investment Management Consultants Association (2007), has a Bachelor of Commerce degree (with Merit) from the University of New South Wales and has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia since 1993.
Andrew Dowie, B. Econ (Hons) - Economist
Andrew joined the Advance in November 2006 as an economist and comes to the team with 25 years of financial market experience gained principally in fixed income markets.
Andrew began his investment market career in the City of London as a Eurobond dealer before moving to Sydney and has worked in managerial roles for leading global investment banks including Kleinwort Benson and Merrill Lynch International.
Andrew’s experience covers all facets of fixed interest activity from the promotion of Australian bonds to Japanese institutional investors to market making and corporate finance activities. More recent activity has seen Andrew analysing macro economic activity and working closely with the Advance portfolio managers.
Marcelle Murphy, B.Ec, Dip Ed - Economist
Marcelle Murphy joined the St.George Group in September 1993 as an economist. She holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree and Diploma in Education from Macquarie University. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance from FINSIA. She has extensive experience in economic and financial market research, working firstly as an economist with Westpac Bank for a period of four years.
Her most recent position was as a quantitative analyst at ASSIRT, responsible for providing economic and investment market analysis and forecasts, which were used in the asset allocation decision-making process.
Nick Valcas, BBus (Bking & Fin), SA Fin - Senior Analyst, Portfolio Research
Nick joined Advance in June 2001. Nick has a Bachelor of Business with a joint major in Banking and Finance and is a Senior Associate of the Financial Services Institute of Australia. He has over 30 years’ experience in financial markets with expertise in equity portfolio construction, portfolio risk analysis, portfolio exposure management, quantitative and financial modelling.
Prior to joining Advance Nick was Quantitative and Industrial analyst at ASSIRT Equities, and Equity Portfolio Manager at Australian Casualty & Life, and Royal & Sun Alliance.
James Kerr, BAgEc (Ec) - Portfolio Manager, Tactical Asset Allocation
James is part of the Portfolio Strategy team and is responsible for development and implementation of Advance’s Tactical Asset Allocation strategies. James previously held a seconded portfolio management role to the Advance Property Securities Multi-Blend portfolio. He was responsible for portfolio implementation, manager research and strategy review, and successfully oversaw the implementation of the portfolio throughout the 2009/10 business migration between BT and Advance.
James’ formally joined Advance in October 2007 as an Investment Analyst responsible for the management of the asset allocation re-balancing strategy across diversified portfolios, management of cash flows and liquidity levels across all funds, and execution of transactions on portfolio transitions.
Prior to joining Advance, James worked with St.George Private Bank as a Wealth Support Officer and also held the position of a Review Coordinator, developing strategic portfolio review documents for Private Banking clients. James graduated from Sydney University with a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics in March 2006 and is currently is a candidate in the Charted Financial Analyst program, Level 2.
Pia Velasquez, B.Econ, M.Commerce - Investment Analyst
Pia joined Advance in 2007 where she worked in the Finance and Operations Team encompassing fund and business aspects including investment and management accounting and the coordination of projects before moving to the Investment Analyst role within the Advance investment team where she was responsible for cash flow and liquidity management and asset allocation rebalancing.
Pia is part of the Quantitative Research Team and is responsible for the reporting and analysis of the drivers of risk and return of the portfolios.
She previously worked at BNP Paribas Securities Services across fund accounting, custody and the day-to-day relationship management of investment managers.
Pia holds a Bachelor of Economics from University of Sydney and Masters of Commerce from University of NSW with majors in Economics, Finance and Accounting.
Victor Zheng, B. Mathematic and Finance, M.Comm - Research Analyst
Victor joined Advance in October 2005 as an analyst. Victor has nine years’ experience in financial markets with a focus on investment research, portfolio asset allocation and implementation.
Prior to joining Advance, Victor worked for three years at Morningstar Research where he was responsible for performance reporting and portfolio analysis.
Victor holds a Bachelor of Mathematic & Finance degree and a Masters of Commerce degree.
Colleen Chidzey - Manager, Policy & Due Diligence
Colleen joined St.George in 1991 and commenced with Advance as the Operations Manager early November 2008.
She has a Diploma in Financial Markets through the Securities Institute of Australia and 14 years’ experience in the Funds Management industry. Most recently she was Senior Product Manager for Advance Asset Management Limited during which time she managed the ‘end to end’ delivery of key Advance initiatives across the St.George Wealth business. Colleen is responsible for management of the day to day operational aspects within Advance.
Sujetha Abeynaike – Cash Flow and Compliance Analyst
Sujetha joined Westpac in Dec 2002 and commenced with BT Financial Group as a Reporting Analyst in 2005. Prior to joining the Advance Asset Management, Sujetha was in the Fund Manager Governance team as part of Super and Investment Solutions for BT Financial Group.
In this team she was responsible for managing the relationship between BTFG and Research houses/data vendors as well as providing external reporting requirements. She has previously worked in the BTFG Finance team for 5 years where she was responsible for producing Marketshare reports for BTFG as well as other internal reporting requirements.
Within the investment team, Sujetha is responsible for cash flow, liquidity management, asset allocation rebalancing and compliance. Sujetha holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Information Systems from the University of New South Wales and Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance from Kaplan.
